Heavenly -

Nothing quite compares to the mixture of mountains, a healthy river, muddy trails, rocks, and little boys running a muck. 

The sight makes me feel so content and thankful for my family. 

Learning from the Pro how to skip a rock with true perfection -

Pocket knife training -

No comment - :)

Took a break from the fun for a little nourishment -

Swimming!

I love swimming -

 I love the smell of too much chlorine and the echo of an indoor pool.

I love seeing my children enjoy the water and becoming little fish right before my eyes.

I love watching The Beloved transform into a 10 year old as he pretends to be a flailing alligator spinning in the water or a shark you have to be on the watch out for.

Not that he is dying to play the role of an alligator or shark, but more so anxiously awaiting the sounds of his children's laughter as they swim away in "fear".

So, if you can't tell from the many pictures above,

The Baby is ALL Daddy's Boy!

You may also notice in the pictures above that he WILL NOT look at the camera and he definitely will not humor me with a smile. 

It took some manipulation on my part, but I finally captured a little joy emanating from our little man.

It went something like this,

"Smile Honey."

"Come on. Smile for Mama.

"Buddy, I will not give you back your pacifier until you smile."

 

Success!

Such determined little individuals we're raising - I can't imagine where they get it.

All Little C wanted to do for Spring Break was stay at a hotel with a swimming pool. We took it one step further and drove a couple hours away to truly get a little R&R.

The scenery was fantastic.

The rest and relaxation was even better.

We would sleep in, eat a continental breakfast, go for a swim, warm up in the jacuzzi, take a little nap, watch a little of the GAC channel, go play outside, eat dinner, swim again, shifts in the jacuzzi, and then go to bed perfectly exhausted - ready for the next day when we could do it all again.

Heavenly.

P.S. I still haven't taken down our fort - All of those clean blankets lounging around really satisfy my ever-sensitive detergent smelling senses.

Let's Try This Again -

There's no better way to start out Spring Break than with a -

Fort Mansion!



We're ready for Spring Break -

Bring it ON!!!

Self Esteem Boost -

If you need a refresher course on not caring what people think about you -

 put yourself in the humiliating situation of rockin' out in your car, windows rolled down -

to....

Justin Bieber.

It will teach you to be strong

(and also how to avoid complete eye contact with every driver around you).



You see -

 I have this 8 year old who knows it is not cool to flaunt his adoration for Justin Bieber... but he really likes his music. So for Valentines Day we bought him one of his CDs.

And much to my horror when we put it in I....

liked it... a little.

Shoot.

Not me.

 I was so strong during the BackStreet Boys, NSync, and 98 degrees era -

No thank you!

But now I guess my inner 12 year old girl has come out.

Plus, if I ever want to hear Ludacris rap again in a PG state I am going to have to depend on a Justin Bieber track.

A little while ago we were watching an NBA basketball game where Justin was in attendance. The camera focused in on him and almost the whole audience booed. My motherly defense went off -

He is just a kid.

A talented kid.

Who, granted, is a little obnoxious, but what teenager isn't? Plus the poor guys voice is still in a pre-pubescent state.... we should be kind to him just for that right?

I really don't feel too sorry for him - obviously he is making the big bucks -

what I mostly want to say, in a really weird round about way, is that I feel sorry for myself.

What a mean trick for my brain to even enjoy his music a little bit.

Here's the mind game:

Little C enters the car.

"Mom, can we listen to my CD?"

"Sure honey, if you really want to."

So, I secretly sit there enjoying the music while Little C pays me no notice because he is  singing harder and louder than any 8 year old girl alive.

We arrive at Little C's school and he hops out.

I then make myself turn the CD changer back to MY Taylor Swift CD because that is what I "really" like.

I had put Justin Bieber in strictly for Little C.

I wouldn't listen to it by myself - BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT.  He's the goof ball that does.

Then I remember - I am a 28 year old woman. I don't care what people think about me. Half the people that dislike him haven't even listened to his music - they just hate him because everybody else over 13 does.

So, I go to turn it back because I am sooooo mature...

 but can't.

Because all of a sudden I am a 16 year old girl stuck in a 28 year old body and will not be caught dead enjoying Justin Bieber!

So, there's my confession for the day.

Let the truth be told.

:)

The End.

Watch Out!

We'll start out this post with a few cute pictures of the kiddos.

Just a reminder as to why women endure pregnancy - :)

I love these little humans!!

The third tri-mester is the killer in my life.

I have to constantly remind myself to

CONTROL MY THOUGHTS.

Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.

I truly had to refrain the other day from making an "I was dumb today" badge to hand out to the thoughtful souls around me.

I was in the check out line with my cart full of children and groceries when the checker asked me how far along I was.

I graciously supplied the appropriate information -

and her reply was...

"Oh. Yeah. I guess you look good."

You guess I look good?

Well - I guess.... that YOU WERE DUMB TODAY.

And now you will receive a badge stating just that.

Because I am a woman that thinks about making badges. :)

p.s.....I will never admit that again. :)

I know I am being sensitive -

and Mom I don't really think she is dumb. Just completely unaware of how her statement may affect a woman who is expecting.

My third trimester I get huge.

Huge, huge, huge.

And this is when the questions begin.

"When are you due? Really, 2 1/2 more months? Wow. Seriously?"

Tell me about it. I look down and think the same thing.

I can whine a bit right?

I really am thankful and blessed that my body is capable of carrying wonderfully, healthy babies that I love to pieces.

I just have to try and remind myself of that every time I am tempted to hand out an, "I was dumb today" badge to a poor unsuspecting commenter.

The good news is -

it is Girl Scout Cookie Season!

So hurrah for Thin Mints - and the box I ate today... in one sitting... after 7 people at church were astounded that I still had ten weeks left in my pregnancy. :)

Two more things and then we'll end this prego post:

My laundry is getting done everyday because I am in love with my laundry detergent smell. Gosh, the happiness that it brings. Also, my skin is so extra soft. Especially my face. My skin clears up completely when I am pregnant, which is a delight.

When The Beloved is in need of a little uplifting I tell him that he should go and smell the freshly washed comforter in the laundry room. 

After he declines that marvelous suggestion, I inquire as to whether or not he'd like to feel my face - because it is so soft and glorious- but so far he doesn't seem sold on either offer. Odd.

He is really missing out on the greater joys in life. :)  Poor guy.

P.S. THE BELOVED IS GROUNDED!

After much pressure he convinced me to get on the scale the other day.

I weigh more this pregnancy than ever before, and although I am glad I am gaining weight and not losing it, I find it a tad depressing to look at the numbers on the scale.

The Beloved likes to play this game where he guesses how much I weigh. It's awesome.

Right.

 So, he knowingly over guessed - to which I responded - I have never weighed that much in my whole life!

So I get on the scale to prove it, but the numbers that appeared prove that his guess was almost exact.

I stared down at the numbers in shock. How could this be? I just went to the doctor two weeks ago. How did I gain twenty lbs in two weeks?

I didn't speak.

I just stared down at the weight listed below like a deer in the headlights.

Then I heard The Beloved laughing hysterically.

I looked back and finally noticed his foot pressing down on the scale behind me - adding 20 extra lbs to my total.

Rude. :)

I was relieved...

but I had to smell a lot of clean laundry after that. :)

Am I Being Mocked? :)

With boys this cute- even pregnant boys- how could I not want more? :)

A Little Bit of This - A Little Bit of That -

About a month ago we traveled to UT for some birthday fun. Two cousins, who were born on the same day, were celebrating their b-day at Build-A-Bear.

Our kids had an absolute ball and came home with the best party favors ever. We laughed pretty hard when the boys named their bears.

Little C called his Blaze, Lou named his Color, and The Baby ended up with a Snowman that goes by NO! - because that was the only word that would come out of his mouth.

 Thanks to their awesome aunt and uncle for inviting us!

We love you guys!

Oh these funny little boys we are raising :) -

Here is some lunch entertainment:

Who can stick the most macaroni on their face?

These are my lunch time companions and sometimes, well often times, I wonder,

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?

Where did they learn this?

We will be sitting there having a lovely meal and then The Baby points at Lou and says, "Poop!"

So Lou, never one to disappoint in this department, gives his best pooping imitation alive.

They burst out into hysterics until it's Lou's turn to point his finger at The Baby and yell, "Poop!"

The Baby responds with a competitive, red faced, grunt.

Delightful.

Once this activity has died downed, after much scowling from their mother, my talented 3 year old lets out a belch.

This belch could not be appreciated more by his younger one year old sibling who claps out his approval.

Lou has been able to make himself burp since he was two, and somehow has decided this is an incredible talent for a young boy to have. I am pretty sure he's been in cahoots with Little C who also revels in this same talent.

Not okay.

Boys-boys-boys -

I never know what's going to happen.

Example:

This last Sunday things were going supremely well in Sacrament Meeting. The boys were being reverent and were sitting there coloring quietly. Lou gets out of his chair and starts walking toward The Beloved.

All of a sudden, The Baby, somehow being extremely offended by this, runs full speed at Lou, head down, and rhino charges him.

Flattens Lou to the ground.

The Beloved and I share one of our, "what in the world? looks" as we both bend to pick up a crying child.

Not a clue my friends, not a clue.

Little C curiously manages to stay out of the chaos.

Due to innocence or secret creator of mischief, we know not.

Little C is a funny one.

Lately he has been struggling with wearing his clothes inside out and backward. Mostly this usually just occurs with his underwear - but the other day he came upstairs with his shirt on incorrectly as well.

I said, "Little C, you wear your clothes on inside out and backward more than any other little kid I know."

He replied,

"It's character building Mom."

Ha - character building.

Maybe my kids would take me more seriously if they didn't have me laughing all of the time.

Something else that has been on my mind is the 2011 LDS Historical Calendar.

Lots of people think about this calendar - it is perfectly normal :).

Actually I am a bit perturbed.

If you own one, flip through the lovely pages of church history until you come to the month of July -

 My wonderful, glorious, birthday month, and many of those that I love.

Check out the flower.

A Larkspur.

Do you know what a Larkspur stands for?

HAUGHTINESS.

I have tried to convince myself the author meant hottiness but The Beloved teasingly insists that I am wrong.

July is the only month listing a negative association.

All the other months flowers stand for grand things like:

preparedness, memories, constancy, loveliness, precious moments, friendship, modesty, affection, love, purity, and devotion.

It's not like the publisher didn't have another option for July.

They could have chosen the Larkspur Lily whose meaning is quite opposite from the Larkspur itself.

Hopefully I am not proving the calendar's point :) - but sensitive pregnant women take this stuff seriously.

Well...kind of. :)

What I really want to know is which employee of the 2011 LDS Historical Calendar has an  EX born in the month of July?

Because you showed them!

Throwing the arrogant flower Larkspur in on their b-day month - you little twisted villain.

:)

Alright, this forever random post is almost over with.

Here's just one last picture of our girl's day out -

The cute blond in the back, who had the misfortune of sitting behind me (the one who kept forgetting how a photo booth worked and kept standing up between photos), is my soon to be sister-in-law. The Beloved's mother, his sister, and me all tagged along with her to a Bridal Show at the Grand America.

It was a great girl's day out ladies! Thanks for the fun!

Little C's Baptism 01/08/2011

The baptism of your 8 year old child is a little bitter-sweet. Not that I would choose any other route it's just that fleeting thought,
Oh shoot, he's accountable.

I hope he's prepared.

The world can be a scary place. 

I think you probably feel that way your whole life as a parent. Worrying about whether or not you've taught them enough, hoping they know where to turn for the right answers, and praying that they seek for forgiveness and know that their Heavenly Father loves them when things may go a little off path. 

I realize he's only 8 and there will be many more teaching opportunities and wonderful memories to be had, but WOW, he's 8.

How did that happen?

My little kid.

My little kid who chose to follow the commandment of baptism. What a wonderful young man.

I couldn't be prouder.

I was up at the window, sitting amongst the little kids, trying to contain my excited one year old when Little C was baptized.

Lou was yelling out, "Hi Daddy! Hi Little C." And the baby was knocking on the window wondering what in the heck was going on.  

I loved watching the smiles on both Little C's and The Beloved's faces as they were walking toward one another to meet in the middle of the baptismal font. I think Little C swam a bit. :)

To take upon you the name of Jesus Christ is a great responsibility but nothing in this world can make you happier.

I am so excited for Little C to feel that happiness, to have the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to watch him grow in the gospel throughout his life.

Before the baptism we had a short program at our house to help personalize things a little bit.

The Grandfathers spoke and delivered some awesome messages.

My dad, Papa, spoke on baptism and The Beloved's father, Grandpa, spoke on the Holy Ghost.

Little C received some great instruction and his grandpa used a build-a-bear doll as a visual aid to help Little C understand how the Holy Ghost helps you.

We had a little extra time so the grandmas bore their testimonies as well.

I can't think of four better teachers for my son. What valiant, upstanding people to have as grandparents!

The Beloved's mom pulled a quick one on us :) and requested that The Beloved and I bare our testimonies as well.

Man, she's good :).

But, I am glad she did.

A testimony is probably something you cannot share with your child enough and it made a sweet ending to a wonderful program.

I love this picture.

I imagine heaven is something like this, well without the folding chairs and the classic plastic divider, but who knows?

Being surrounded by your loving family.

Those who supported you during this life and helped you along the way and who are there to meet you in the next life to say,

job well done.

We love you Little C.

You have taken the first step.

Job well done.

Snuggies

I am not quite sure why the only time of year I sew is around Christmas -

WHEN I AM GIVING GIFTS TO PEOPLE! 

Sorry dear people.

 I guess for those of you who aren't closely related to me you should feel lucky. No odd homemade gifts for you.

This year I decided to make Snuggies. I found an awesome sale on fleece and a "1hour" pattern to go along with it.

Right.

The problem with me is I have lovely intentions but am the WORLD'S BIGGEST PROCRASTINATOR.

Tis true.

Two days before we are supposed to exchange gifts with The Beloved's family I bust out my fabric and rip open my one hour pattern. That's when I ran into a major problem.

I discovered I couldn't read sewing language. The directions on the pattern were completely foreign - 

I was googling every other word.

When all else fails what do I do?

Well, call my dear mother of course. She lovingly came to my rescue, like always, but asked me this one simple question:

"Honey, why didn't you start working on this a month ago if you knew you didn't know how to sew?"

My response,

"I didn't know that I didn't know how to sew."

Pathetic I know.... and I think I've learned my lesson.

Plus, I now know the art of sewing a Snuggie without following directions at all.

But don't ask for one because I also remembered I hate sewing.

Here is my amazing sister-in-law modeling one of her children's BYU Snuggies:

In this picture it looks really funky -

I don't think it was like that in real life...

but it's definitely possible.

I "helped" my #2 Sister finish a Snuggie she was making for my #1 Sister, but all I really helped do was sew the arms on opposite directions.

Do you like? :)

We finally sorted things out and got everything sewn on properly.

I also made three for my Sister #3's family -

  :)

The End -

Until next year - when I forget I don't know how to sew again.